Obituary of Lorraine Susanna Link

Lorraine Link, age 87, passed away on March 9, 2014. The family will be receiving friends at Sellars Funeral Home from 4-8 p.m. on Friday and from 11 a.m. until the service on Saturday. The Funeral Service is 1 p.m. Saturday, March 15, 2014 in the chapel at Sellars Funeral Home. Interment in Link Cemetery, Lebanon TN following the service. Lorraine Link was born on July 4, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan to Andrew and Lula Mae Humphries. She was the second oldest of five siblings: older brother Andrew "Gump" Humphries, Theodore Humphries, Lester B. Humphries, and Laura Henry She attended Miller High School in Detroit and graduated in 1944. Lorraine married Andrew William Link in 1946. She loved to sing and wanted to become a professional singer, but chose to be a wife, mother, and business partner instead. She sang at a number of churches from Michigan to Tennessee throughout her life; her voice was an inspiration to many until her dying days. Lorraine and Andrew became one of the first African American entrepreneurs in the city of Detroit; they opened a grocery store and pursued many more business ventures as the years passed. She and her husband had a very active social life. In her earlier days, Lorraine and her sisters and sisters-in-laws took the children for picnics on Belle Isle as a way to get out of the city but still be there. Family was very important to her, especially her daughters. She was very encouraging and supportive and was a guiding force in many lives. She appreciated style and fashion, which led her to become Mrs. Big and Beautiful in the 70's. She is preceded in death by husband and best friend Andrew, daughter Amoret Pullen, grandson Lance Link, parents, and siblings. She is survived by children: Bridgett Edwards, Andrew Charles "Bo" Link, and Rudene "Rudy" Small; grandchildren: Steven Edwards, Celeste Rogers, Randy Edwards, Andre Rogers, Ricky Edwards, Taurie Small, Eric Link, David Link, Rachel White, Wanda Edwards, and London Davis; Jasmyne Robinson, the first of 26 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson: Alijah Edwards.